In 2007, Bernie Joscak nearly lost his left arm while working at a bakery when it got caught in a large mixer.
The accident left him unable to work. He wore an arm brace and drew disability benefits, but “he never complained about it,” said Edmund Joscak of Plum, Mr. Joscak's eldest brother.
When he was diagnosed with liver cancer this year, “he was the same way,” Ed Joscak said.
“The kid was amazing. He never complained about his lot in life.”
Bernard “Bernie” R. Joscak of Braddock died Sunday, Sept. 11, 2016, of cancer. He was 56.
A son of Edmund and Eleanor Joscak, he was born in June 1960 in Braddock. After graduating from St. Thomas High School in Braddock, he worked at Sgambatti's Bakery.
He later worked at Giant Eagle and Mancini's Bakery, where he made bread and rolls.
“He was very good at it,” Ed Joscak said.
He spent his final days at home with family and friends, who cooked for him and took care of him. He got up every morning and did a crossword puzzle. At night, he passed the time by watching the Pirates on TV.
“He wanted every day to be normal,” his brother said. “He didn't want us to dwell on his situation.”
When relatives visited him in the hospital, he would ask, “How are you doing?” He was more concerned about their situation than his, Ed Joscak said.
He was a pool shark. After his workplace accident, his doctor told him to stop shooting pool, but “he went against his doctor's orders,” said Brittany Joscak of Irwin, Mr. Joscak's daughter.
Although he had limited use of his left arm, “he was beating people with two good arms,” she said.
In addition to his brother, Ed Joscak, and daughter, Brittany Joscak, Mr. Joscak is survived by his brothers, Daniel Joscak of Forest Hills, David Joscak of North Versailles and Ronald Joscak of Braddock; his sister, Diane “Dee” Newton of Hilton Head, S.C.; son, Christopher Joscak of Braddock; stepdaughter, Amanda Kazimer of Penn Hills; and a granddaughter, Rylee Joscak.
Visitation will be from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday in Patrick T. Lanigan Funeral Home and Crematory Inc., 700 Linden Ave. in East Pittsburgh.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday at Good Shepherd Church in Braddock.
Tony Raap is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at 412-320-7827 or traap@tribweb.com.
